What have we gained by Brexit/leaving the EU?

[Elephant4]

In simple terms.

I've read so much about what we've lost.

Please no sarcastic comments. I just want to know what we've gained - probably best if those who think Brexit is a positive thing post.

You do realise the vaccine was first approved and delivered late last year? While we were still fully aligned with EU regulations?

I think you know exactly what I mean, stop splitting hairs.

Oh we know what you mean, sovereignty, control our borders, make our own laws. Funnily enough, one such group, namely fishermen, with whom you share your opinions are very angry about Johnson's deal and want compensation from the Government, for the £1 million a day losses. Ungrateful aren't they?

No, I meant you know what I mean strictly in relation to the roll out of the Covid vaccine.

Ah, the British world beating bollox, for the rollout of a vaccine invented by a German couple, produced in Belgium, by an American firm.

But that's totally irrelevant. I'm talking about speed and numbers.

I don't think we have been all that speedy, or have done such high numbers, but I admit, with the current Government it's a surprise that there are any at all. So this must be a tribute to those health care professionals getting the job done.

It could be more efficient, i.e. done at local surgeries, instead of having to dragging old people ten miles to get it done. But yes it's Bigging up Britain for Brexit Bollox.

I don't think we have been all that speedy, or have done such high numbers, but I admit, with the current Government it's a surprise that there are any at all.

Riiiight....that sort of sounds like an admission that something is going very right for us, post Brexit, there. Sort of. Don't pull a muscle saying though, will you?

The figures speak for themselves.

It doesn't - it sounds like we've got decent health care professionals who are a million times better than the incompetent Government led by a liar and a cheat.

Crikey! Even with a fantastic vaccine roll out some aren’t happy. But as a remainers, I think this is a losing argument for fellow remainers generally so better to concentrate on other areas the Government have cocked up as the vaccine roll out most definitely isn’t one of them. It just dilutes more sensible arguments if you can’t acknowledge any Government successes or advantages to not being in the EU at all.

Crikey! Even with a fantastic vaccine roll out some aren’t happy. But as a remainers, I think this is a losing argument for fellow remainers generally so better to concentrate on other areas the Government have cocked up as the vaccine roll out most definitely isn’t one of them.

Ain't that the truth?

LetThemEatSovereignty
We were charged more than the EU for Pfizer

The article in your link doesn't appear to mention the U.K. at all - did you misread U.S. as 'us'?

Europe to pay less than U.S. for Pfizer vaccine under initial deal.

I think it's very difficult to speculate on an exact cost per dose especially as rich nations have ordered many more vaccine doses than they need - can the EU (or the UK) recoup the money on doses not administered?

Your link also says that the price reflects the "financial support given by the EU and Germany for the drug’s development" and the EU has paid "non-refundable down payments" to a number of other vaccine companies prior to regulator approval.

And we are receiving Moderna in April - 3 months after EU.

Although your second link says;

The EU has ordered 160 million doses of the Moderna shot, enough to vaccinate 80 million people in its 27 member states, but the first initial volumes are expected to be small.

EU countries started vaccinations on Dec. 27 and are trying to catch up with countries such as Britain and Israel where large numbers of people have already received inoculations.

The campaign has already gotten off to an uneven start, with officials in Germany and France frustrated at the slow rate of progress.

Israel appear to have paid two or three times the amount per-dose as the E.U. (excluding the EU's other costs) but Israel are ahead with their vaccinations so worth the higher cost for them?

Sneaky Germany;

The European Commission on Friday (8 January) refused to provide an answer on whether Germany’s bilateral deal with Pfizer-BioNTech for 30 million extra doses has broken the commitment to joint procurement of vaccines.

A controversy broke out over the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines by the German government in addition to the share jointly procured and distributed on a pro-rata basis by the EU.

At the end of December, a German health official confirmed in a press conference that Angela Merkel’s government had signed a separate deal with Pfizer-BioNTech in September for 30 million extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

However, in an annex to the Commission’s vaccine strategy presented in June, the EU-27 countries agreed “not to launch their own procedures for advance purchase of that vaccine with the same manufacturers.”

Asked to clarify the issue at a press conference on Friday, the Commission refused to reply to the many questions on the issue, saying that reporters should direct the questions to the German authorities.

The bilateral negotiation with Pfizer-BioNTech occurred when Germany was holding the EU rotating presidency and preaching the benefits of joint purchasing of vaccines alongside the Commission.

www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/commission-takes-evasive-action-over-germanys-vaccine-side-deal/

Ah, the British world beating bollox, for the rollout of a vaccine invented by a German couple, produced in Belgium, by an American firm

So that'll be the Pfizer vaccine then? Interesting you should choose to use that as your example of something the British didn't actually do well. What about the other one? You know, the main one we are using because it's better and more stable to transport. What about that one?

Crikey! Even with a fantastic vaccine roll out some aren’t happy. But as a remainers, I think this is a losing argument for fellow remainers generally so better to concentrate on other areas the Government have cocked up as the vaccine roll out most definitely isn’t one of them

The OxZ vaccine has nothing to do with Brexit, its got everything to do with british science able to attract the best brains from around the globe and keep british talent here.
Post Brexit... will that still be the case? many in science say no.

The successful (fantastic is for Israel) rollout is again, due to the hard work of NHS staff, everyone having an NHS number and a vaccine that can be transported easily and not Johnson, who has allowed far too much red tape to remain in place.

What the UK did with vaccine was open to any EU country, Hungary did similar and had we stayed in the EU, we would have done the same.

Considering the transport/storage limitations of the Pfizer vaccine, europe's done ok, when they get the OxZ one, they'll do better still and we need them too, its a global effort and dick waving is childish.

I think the vaccine price is another rubbish remainer argument as the actual cost of the vaccines generally is almost the least expensive thing about this pandemic compared to lockdown / practically everything else. Even if you get the vaccines for free, if it takes you nearly a year to roll them out you’re buggered financially. Paying more but getting them quickly like Israel is the best strategy

Paying more but getting them quickly like Israel is the best strategy

Israel hasn't paying more, they agreed to help Pfizer in ongoing research into the long term effects of their vaccine... in other words a massive ongoing ph3 trial, which we will all benefit from.

Agree, arguing about who paid what for Vaccine A is pointless, its hens teeth.

According to my Hungarian colleague, Hungary have had a small delivery of the Sputnik vaccine under pressure from Putin , not because they want to. She says all her relatives want to wait for the Oxford one.
And the EU aren’t happy with them for doing a deal with Russia. Sputnik has not (yet?) been approved by the EU.
Anyway, it really is a losing and pointless argument to try and claim we are not better off outside the EU where this particular issue is concerned. There are good arguments but this is not one of them.

@jasjas1973

Paying more but getting them quickly like Israel is the best strategy

Israel hasn't paying more, they agreed to help Pfizer in ongoing research into the long term effects of their vaccine... in other words a massive ongoing ph3 trial, which we will all benefit from.

Agree, arguing about who paid what for Vaccine A is pointless, its hens teeth.

Agreed but I do see on Twitter U.K. paid more per dose or whatever from remainers. It really is a pointless point

The vaccine roll out has been brilliant, can't knock the government on it at all, well done everyone involved.
To pretend the speed of roll out is anything to do with Brexit though is just a lie. Why would you lie like that? Do you even know you're lying or do you actually believe what you're saying?

Actually, perhaps you're lying about the covid vaccine being a Brexit benefit because Brexit is now doing real viable damage, even fishermen don't like it, I suppose you have to try to claim anything you can (true or not) as a Brexit benefit. Well, unless you think now being able to use bee killing chemicals is a benefit, Tory PMs seem to think this is a plus.

Anyway, it really is a losing and pointless argument to try and claim we are not better off outside the EU where this particular issue is concerned

Not sure i understand?
The UK was in transition when vaccines ordered etc etc, so effectively IN the EU.

What we did was open to any EU country and given our past reluctance to be involved in EU schemes, i suspect, even without 2016, we would have done exactly the same thing.

I think the point is EU countries outsourced their vaccine procurement to Brussels, yes they didn’t have to do this, yes they could have done separate deals but none did. Because politically I assume that would have been awkward and some of the smaller countries would have been left behind in the unholy scramble and may not have the ability to approve a novel vaccine/S. Germany now seems to be regretting this somewhat. Luckily for us we are a big enough nation with enough experts to procure, create, and procure vaccines for ourselves. We did not need Brussels to do it for us. I know that upsets some on here but I am not sure why
Anyway, it is a pointless argument and we’ll likely never agree on it.

Bingham [outgoing chair of the Vaccines Taskforce] was appointed by Boris

A good choice then, despite the earlier complaints about her on here;

"We are at the early stages of managing the pandemic and while the scientific and governmental response to this pandemic is far from over, I would pay tribute to Kate Bingham and the Vaccine Taskforce for the drive, focus and creativity they have shown in getting the UK so far forward in such a short time."

Richard Sykes, 2 December 20
Chairman of The Royal Institution of Great Britain [and Chairman of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust];

www.gov.uk/government/news/governments-vaccines-taskforce-has-worked-decisively-and-at-great-pace-to-improve-uks-pandemic-preparedness

The vaccine - it could all have been done as it is being done, without us leaving the EU. Brexit was unnecessary to achieve our temporary approval of the Pfuzer-BioNTech vaccine through MHRA and early roll-out. It is not a Brexit issue or gain. The end.

It's still very early but there's the vaccine programme: it's making the UK look much better on this subject than the EU.

Did you listen to the R4 Nick Robinson interview with Kate Bingham?
Fascinating & she has done a great job.

But a brexit benefit? nope.